Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for PTSD prior to February 24, 2017, and in excess of 50 percent since then; TDIU is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic symptoms during or within one year after service and no link between current back disability and in-service injury. The decision is based on the lack of probative value of the Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file, and a new VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's back disability had its onset during service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective from August 17, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for an in-person hearing at the RO, and the need to readjudicate the issue based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records, specifically inpatient hospitalization records from Fort Knox and Social Security Administration disability records. The Veteran's back disability claim will be reviewed again with these additional records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an increased rating for his right shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis and right shoulder arthritis. Service connection was denied for kidney cyst and adrenal disorder, both of which are presumed to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine and cervical spine disabilities due to inadequate VA examination and medical nexus opinions. Additional development is required to address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) appeals are granted, but the Board finds that remand is necessary for further development of his service-connected low back disability, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to determine the appropriate rating for his low back disability, as well as to establish service connection for a psychiatric condition. The issue of total disability based on individual unemployability is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that the current lumbar spine disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease and is not shown to have been caused or aggravated by another service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain disability and tension headaches has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10% prior to November 7, 2021 and 20% from that date onwards. The appeal for higher ratings in both periods has been denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further evaluation due to incomplete records and need for clarification of the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hand disability, back disability, and disability manifested by residuals of a heat stroke. The claims are therefore being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip disability, lumbar spine disability, and ED. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and active military service.